Fireworks spark Provo canyon fire

Crime • Two teens playing with fireworks could face criminal and civil charges.

Share This Article

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Two teenage boys are suspected of starting a 12-acre fire Friday near Rock Canyon in Provo.

Dispatchers first got calls about the fire burning on the mountainside north of Rock Canyon shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday. Firefighters from Provo, Utah County and the Lone Peaks Hotshots aggressively battled the blaze until it was fully contained by about 9 p.m., said Provo Fire Marshal Lynn Schofield.

Two helicopters and a single-engine tanker also aided the fire-fighting effort.

Investigators found that two teens playing with fireworks in the foothills of the mountains started the fire, Schofield said. The two were questioned and released to their parents, and the case will be screened for charges next week.

Fireworks are always illegal in the Provo foothills, even on July 4 or Pioneer Day. Besides the potential criminal charges, there could also be civil charges, since the policy of having people pay for the cost of fires they start is still in effect, Schofield said.

"This was a poor choice," Schofield said.

Michael McFall

Share This Article

USER COMMENTS

Reader comments on sltrib.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Salt Lake Tribune. We will delete comments containing obscenities, personal attacks and inappropriate or offensive remarks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. If you see an objectionable comment, please alert us by clicking the arrow on the upper right side of the comment and selecting "Flag comment as inappropriate". If you've recently registered with Disqus or aren't seeing your comments immediately, you may need to verify your email address. To do so, visit disqus.com/account. See more about comments here.